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Aug. 11, 1959 J H, SCHMIDT 2,899,513

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1959 J. H. SCHMIDT ELECTRICAL SWITCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9,1957 m T. m. V W.

United States Patent ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Jacob H. Schmidt, Aurora, Ill.

Application April 9, 1957, Serial No. 651,639

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to improvements inelectric switches and more particularly to the structure andorganization of a single or multi-pole switch for single and pluralstraight through or cross-over circuits, and is a continuation in partof my application Number 586,321 filed May 21, 1956 now abandoned.

The switch disclosed herein is a toggle type switch having novel contactstructures therein arranged in a manner to permit it to be used in amultiple of difierent circuits. More specifically, the structureincludes a hollow housing of insulating material having pairs of contactelements mounted in its side walls and to which the lines of twoindependent circuits may be connected. Mounted on the open top of thehousing is an insulated cover plate underlying a conventional mountingstrap and an insulation toggle type of lever mounted for rocking motionon integral trunnions journalled in suitable seats between the housingand cover plate. Oscillating means, in the form of a contact blade, isoperably connected with the lever through a toggle type pin-springconnection and it is arranged to operate within the housing forselective contact with certain contact terminals on selected contactelements for closing selected circuits through the switch. The leveralso carries rigidly on its bottom face and within the housing a pair ofbridging conducting elements adapted for selective engagement with othercontact terminals of the sets of contact elements for completing othercircuits through the switch. The structure is such that when the switchlever is in one of its two spring biased positions, two straight linecircuits are completed therethrough and when in its other spring biasedposition the circuits cross over in said switch so that two diagonallycrossed circuits are completed. Otherwise stated, when the lever is inone of its positions, current in one circuit entering one of theterminals of one set of contact elements is carried straight across to alaterally opposed stationary terminal through one of the bridgingelements on the lever, whereas current in another circuit flowing toanother contact terminal of said set of contact elements is carriedacross to a terminal on a laterally opposed contact element through thespring biased contact blade. 'When the position of the lever is changed,current from .said one first contact element is conducted to the contactelement diagonally opposed thereto through the bridging elements on thelever whereas the contact blade will now complete a circuit diagonallyopposed thereto.

The instant disclosure also includes modified forms of contact terminalswhich, when installed in the housing, afford diflerent circuit paths forthe circuits flowing therethrough.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages ofthe invention are attained will be described in the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, and several modifiedforms of contact terminals, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of a fourway switchembodying features of the invention.

Patented Aug. 11, 1959 'Figure 2 is a fragmentary schematic view showingthe lever and related parts in one position of use.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary schematic view showing lever in its otherposition of use.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the contact arrangement, showing alever carried bridging element and the spring biased contact blade inbroken lines and in positions assumed when the lever is in the circuitclosing position illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 4 but showing the otherlever terminal and contact blade in the circuit closing positionsillustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional detail view of the housmg.

Figure 7 is a view illustrating a set of contact terminals of modifiedform.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the switch includes a housing'11 which is molded of insulation material and includes a bottom wall12, end walls 13 and connecting side walls 14. Each side wall hasextending downwardly from its free upper edge a pair of spaced apartslots or openings 15-16 and l718 respectively and, as best shown inFigure 6, the bottom wall is centrally recessed to provide opposedlateral shoulders 19, 21. The inside face of each side wall also isrecessed, as at 22, and the side faces of the openings 15-18 aresuitably grooved, as at 23, all for the purpose of mounting novelcontact structures or elements in the body.

A contact element 24, including a body portion 25, is fitted into thegrooves 23 of opening 15 and it has at its upper end a contact terminal26. A side extension 27 on the body portion 25 is seated in grooveextension 23a and carries a contact terminal 2-3 that overlies theopening 16 and extends inwardly from the respective side wall into thehousing. A second contact element 29 is fitted into opening 16 and ithas a lateral offset 2% which lies in groove extension 23a and has asubstantially U-shape contact terminal 31 that extends inwardly from therelated recess 22. This contact terminal 31 seats in a recess extension22a ('Fig. 6) and constitutes a bearing journal in which one sidetrunnion 32 of a contact plate 33 is journalled for suspension withinthe housing. The other trunnion 32 of said contact plate is seated in acorresponding recess extension in recess 22 in the other side wall.Insulators 24a and 2911 are arranged between contact elements 24 and 29to insulate one from the other.

A T-shape operating lever 34, of insulation material, including anelongated base 35 and a perpendicular hand engaging portion 36, ismounted in housing 11 with its portion '36 extending outwardly throughregistering openings 37-37a in a cover plate 38 and strap 43respectively, to permit access to be had thereto. The cover plateoverlies laterally aligned trunnions 39 integral with the base 35 forjournalling the lever 34 for rocking movement in recesses 22. Screws 41secure the cover plate 38 and strap 43 to the housing by threadedengagement in tapped holes 42 on the upper edges of end walls 13.

The lever 34 is operably connected to contact plate 33 by means of a pin44 depending rigidly from and embedded in the bottom face of base 35,which pin has a spherical tip 45 over which is seated a cap 46. Acompressed coil spring 47 is interposed between cap 46 and a tongue 33aon contact plate 33 so as to cause said plate to be snapped into one orthe other of its extreme positions when the lever 34 is rocked abouttrunnions 39.

A pair of contact elements 48 are secured to the bottom face of the base35 by means of screws 35a. Each of these elements includes an attachingportion 49 which terminates at oneend in a downturned flange 51 andwhich has angularly upwardly extending wings 52 adapted to be seated inslots 53 in the lever base. The wings 52 func- 3 tion as contact bridgesand serve to limit sweep of level 34.

The housing also carries another pair of contact elements 54 and 55which are mounted in the housing openings 17 and 18 respectively.Insulators 54a and 55a are seated on the top faces of the respectivecontact elements. The contact element 54 includes a contact terminal 56on its upper end and an elongated contact terminal 57 on its lower end.The terminal 57 is arranged in surface abutment with shoulder 19 in thehousing bottom wall. The contact element 55 includes an upper contactterminal 58 and a lower contact terminal 59, the latter being seatedagainst the bottom wall shoulder 21. All of the contact elements 229-54and 55 are retained in place by the cover plate 38.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 4 which illustrate one of the twopositions assumed by lever 34, the lever is shown rocked to the right.When in this position, one of the two contact elements 48 on said leveris carried into electrical contact through wings 52 with contactterminals 26 and 56 so as to provide a straight through connectionbetween the electric lines connected to contact elements 24 and 54. Atthe same time the contact plate 33 is carried into abutment with contactterminal 59 of element 55 to thereby complete a second straight throughcircuit between contact element 29 and contact element 55. Suchpositioning of the contact plate 33 is attained by reason of thespring-toggle connection 4447 between lever 34 and plate 33 and swingingaction of the plate is initiated during initial rocking of the lever byabutment of related flange 51 with the upper end thereof. There isthereby established two straight through circuits, one between contactelements 24 through contacts 26, 52 and 56 and 54 and the other betweencontact elements 29 and 55 through contacts 31, 32, 33 and 59.

When the lever is rocked into its other position, that is to the left asillustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the contact terminals 23 and 58 arebridged by the contacts 52 on the other lever contact element 52 ofattachment to provide a cross-over circuit between contact elements 24and 55 through contacts 52, 28 and 58. At the same time, contact plate33 is snapped to the left by abutment of the related flange 51 with saidplate, whereupon it is brought into contact with contact terminal 57 oncontact element 54. The resulting circuit is through contact element 29,plate 33 and contact element 54 through contacts 31, 32, 33 and 57.

The basic features of the 4-way switch described hereinabove can beutilized for the closing of other circuits by substituting contactelements of different specific construction for the elements disclosedherein above.

By omitting certain elements of the 4-way structure shown in Fig. 1 andsubstituting certain modified elements shown in Fig. 7, any one familiarwith the art can construct various switch circuits covering the entirefamily of wall switches of which the following are representative.

For a one-circuit two-pole or a two-circuit one-pole Off and On switch,the elements 24, 54 and 55 are replaced by elements 62, 66 and 64,respectively.

For a one-circuit one-pole Off and On switch employing lower contactterminals only, parts 24, 54 and 55 are replaced by two elements 65 andan element 64, respectively.

For a three-way alternating circuit switch employing lower contactterminals only, replace parts 24, 54 and 55 with elements 65, 63 and 64respectively.

For a one-circuit Off and On switch employing upper contact terminalsonly, replace parts 24, 29, 54 and 55 with elements 62, 65, 66 and 65respectively.

When constructing a one-circuit Off and On or a three-way Switch usingwiring elements 63 or 64 of Fig. 7, which employ lower contact terminalsonly, the contact terminals 56 and 58 of the four-way switch are notpresent, and the contact bridging elements 52 in this instance merelyoperate to limit the sweep of toggle lever 34 to its extreme positions.

In a one-circuit Off and On or a three-way switch using wiring elements62 or 66 of Fig. 7, and which employ upper contact terminals 26, 28, 56and 58 only, said terminals are bridged 26 to 56 at one end of theswitch or 28 to 58 at the other end of the switch by wings 52 on switchlever 34. The lower contact terminals 57 and 59 are not used in thisinstance and the plate 33 functions only as a spring carrying plungerwhich butts against shoulders 19 and 21 (Fig. 6) to restrict itsoscillating movement to extreme positions.

Although a preferred embodiment and representative modifications thereofhas been described in considerable detail hereinabove it will beunderstood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative,rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure may bemodified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exactconstruction disclosed.

I claim:

1. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed fromone face and including spaced side walls .and a bottom wall, said sidewalls each having laterally aligned slotted openings one adjacent eachend and opening onto the said one face, a first contact structuremounted in one of said openings, a bearing on said structure arrangedinwardly of one side wall and midway between the openings therein, abearing in the other side wall between the openings therein, a contactplate in said recess journalled in said bearings for oscillationlongitudinally of the body, a lever, means operatively connecting thelever with the contact plate for moving the same into either one of itsextreme positions, a second contact structure in the wall openingaligned laterally with the first contact structure, a contact terminalon said second contact structure overlying the bottom wall andengageable by the contact plate when said plate is in one extremeposition adjacent an end of said recess, a third contact structure inanother of said wall openings, a contact terminal on said third contactstructure overlying the bottom wall and engageable by the contact platewhen said plate is in its other extreme position, a fourth contactstructure mounted in the wall opening aligned laterally with the wallopening containing the third contact structure, said third contactstructure having a second contact terminal thereon and the fourthcontact structure having a contact terminal laterally aligned with saidsecond contact terminal, a contact element carried firmly by the leverand arranged to bridge said last two named contact terminals when thecontact plate is in said one extreme position, a second contact terminalon said fourth contact structure, a second contact terminal on thesecond contact structure, and a contact element on the lever arranged tobridge said last two named contact terminals when the contact plate isin its said other extreme position.

2. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed fromone face and including spaced side walls and a bottom wall, said sidewalls each having laterally aligned slotted openings one adjacent eachend and opening onto the said one face, a first contact structuremounted in said recess, a bearing on said structure arranged in therecess adjacent to one wall thereof, a bearing in the other side wall, acontact plate in said recess journalled in said bearings for oscillationlongitudinally of the body, a lever, means operatively conmeeting thelever with the contact plate for moving the plate into either one of itsextreme positions, a second contact structure in the recess, a contactterminal on said second contact structure engageable by the contactplate when said plate is in one extreme position, a third contactstructure in said recess, a contact terminal on said third contactstructure engageable by the contact plate when said plate is in itsother extreme position,

a fourth contact structure in said recess, said third contact structurehaving a second contact terminal thereon and the fourth contactstructure having a contact terminal laterally aligned with said secondcontact terminal, a contact element carried by the lever engageable withsaid last two named contact terminals when the contact plate is in saidone extreme position, a second contact terminal on said fourth contactstructure, a second contact terminal on the second contact structure,and a con tact element on the lever engageable with said last two namedcontact terminals when the contact plate is in its said other extremeposition.

3. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed fromone face, a first contact structure mounted in the body, a bearing onsaid structure arranged in the recess, complemental bearing means in thebody, a contact plate in said recess journalled in said bearings foroscillation longitudinally of the body, a lever, toggle meansoperatively connecting the lever with the contact plate for moving theplate into either one of its extreme positions, a second contactstructure in the body, a contact terminal on said second contactstructure engageable by the contact plate when said plate is in oneextreme position, a third contact structure in the body, a contactterminal on said third contact structure engage- ..able by the contactplate when said plate is in its other extreme position, a fourth contactstructure aligned with the third contact structure, said third contactstructure having a second contact terminal thereon and the fourthcontact structure having a contact terminal laterally aligned with thesecond contact terminal, a contact element carried by the leverengageable with said last two named contact terminals when the contactplate is in said one extreme position, a second contact terminal on saidthird contact structure, a second contact terminal on the fourth contactstructure, and a contact element on the lever engageable with said lasttwo named contact terminals when the contact plate is in its said otherextreme position.

4. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed fromone face and including spaced side walls and a bottom wall, said sidewalls each having laterally aligned slotted openings one adjacent eachend and opening onto the said one face, a first contact structuremounted in one of said openings, a bearing on said structure arrangedinwardly of one side wall and midway between the openings therein, abearing in the other side wall between the openings therein, a contactplate in said recess journalled in said bearings for oscillationlongitudinally of the body, a lever, spring means operatively connectingthe lever with the contact plate for moving the plate into either one ofits extreme positions, a second contact structure in the wall openingaligned with the first contact structure, a contact terminal on saidsecond contact structure overlying the bottom wall and engageable by thecontact plate when said plate is in one extreme position, a thirdcontact structure in another of said wall openings, a contact terminalon said third contact structure overlying the bottom wall and engageableby the contact plate when said plate is in its other extreme position, afourth contact structure mounted in the wall opening aligned with thewall opening containing the third contact structure, said third contactstructure having a second contact terminal thereon and the fourthcontact structure having a contact terminal laterally aligned with thesaid second contact terminal, and a contact element carried by the leverengageable with said last two named contact terminals when the contactplate is in said one extreme position.

5. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material having a recessin one face defining a bottom wall, end walls and connecting side walls,a first contact structure mounted on one side wall having a bearingdisposed in said recess, a laterally aligned bearing in the other sidewall, an oscillatable contact plate in said recess and journalled insaid bearings, means to oscillate said plate and for retaining it ineither of its extreme positions, a pair of contact structures carried onthe other side Wall and each having a contact terminal extending intothe recess adjacent to the bottom wall for selective abutment by thecontact plate when the plate is in an extreme position so as to limitmovement of the plate and to conduct current from the first contactstructure through the plate to the abutted one of said pair of contactterminals, a fourth contact structure communicating with said recess,and contact elements on the oscillating means for providing anelectrical bridge between the fourth contact structure and the one ofthe pair of contact structures not in electrical connection with thecontact plate.

6. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material having a recessin one face defining a bottom wall and side walls, a first contactstructure mounted on one side wall in said recess and having a bearingdisposed in the recess, a laterally aligned bearing in the other sideWall, an oscillatable contact plate journalled in said bearings, meansoperably connected with and actuable to oscillate said plate and toretain it in an extreme position, a pair of contact structures mountedon said other side wall and each having a contact terminal extendinginto the recess adjacent to the bottom wall for selective abutment bythe contact plate when said plate is in an extreme position to conductcurrent from the first contact structure through the plate to theabutted one of said pair of contact structures, a fourth contactstructure mounted on the said one side wall and communicating with saidrecess, and contact elements on the oscillating means for providing anelectrical bridge between the fourth contact structure and the one ofthe pair of contact structures not in electrical connection with thecontact plate.

7. In an electric switch, a body of insulating material recessed fromone face and including spaced side walls, a first contact structuremounted in one wall, a bearing on said contact structure, a contactplate in said recess and journalled in said bearing and in the otherside wall for oscillation relative to the body, a toggle lever operablyconnected to said contact plate for moving it into either one of itsextreme positions, a second contact structure mounted in said other sidewall, a contact terminal on said second contact structure engageable bythe contact plate when said plate is in one of its extreme positions toestablish an electrical circuit between said first and second contactstructures, third and fourth contact structures one mounted in each sidewall, and an electric contact element carried by the toggle lever forbridging the third and fourth contact structures to establish anelectric circuit between said third and fourth contact structures whenthe first and second contact structures are bridged by the contactplate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,027,538 Krieger Jan. 14, 1936 2,156,989 Johnson May 2, 1939 2,171,368Krieger Apr. 29, 1939 2,195,312 Hutt Mar. 26, 1940 2,269,171 BenaderJan. 6, 1942 2,288,283 Hutt June 30, 1942 2,334,007 Hutt Nov. 9, 19432,418,005 Barker et a1. Mar. 25, 1947 2,429,770 Popp Oct, 28, 19472,623,142 Karl Dec. 23, 1952 2,647,177 Huck July 28, 1953 2,734,115Dupre Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 944,472 France Nov. 2, 1948

